Improvement in perforating-stamps



V '2 Shgets-Sheet- 1. J. P. NORTON & J. RAMSEY, Jr.

Perforating-Stamp. No. 220,984. Patented Oct. 28, 1879.

Wz'zzzemw- 1220270 071) NYVFETEFS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTDN D C 2Sheets-Sheet 2 J. P. NORTON & J. RAMSEY, Jr. Perforating-Stamp.

No. 220,984. Patented Oct. 28, 1879.

NVPETERs, PMUTOLITHOGRAPHER, WASHKNETON UNITED STATES EA-TEN OFFIoE.

JAMES P. NORTON, OF PORTLAND, AND JONATHAN RAMSEY, JR., OF WEST MERIDEN,CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT lN PERFORATlNG-STAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,984, dated October28, 1879; application filed September 23, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES P. NORTON, of Portland, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Connecticut, and JONATHAN RAMSEY, J r., of WestMeriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Perforating-Stamps; andwe do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, whereby a person skilled in the art can make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon.

Like letters in the figures indicate the same parts.

Our invention relates to stamps for perforating figures or charactersupon checks, notes, drafts, &c., so that the number of dollars denotednpon the face of the same can be'ineffaceably marked, and therebyprevent any alteration of their value.

Our invention consists in the construction and arrangement of themechanism that will be hereinafter described.

In accompanying drawings on two sheets,

Figure]. is a top view of our improved stamp.

Fig. 2 is a front View of the same. Fig. Sis a front View of the stampwith the front plates removed to show the interior parts. Fig. 4 is aside view of the improved stamp. Fig. 5 is the carrier which holds thecheck or other paper while being punched. Fig. 6 is a section throughone of the stamping-punches. Fig. 7 shows the characters punched.

A is the fixed frame which supports vthe working parts. B is a revolvingblock, turnin g upon a center at B, as shown in the drawings. It is of acircular form, with a part of the rearcut away. It can, however, form acomplete circle, if desired. This-block rotates in a suitable recess inthe frame A, as shown in the drawings.

C C are stamps or punches arranged around the circumference of the blockB. Their construction is more particularly shown in Fig. 6, which showsone of the punches in section. These punches or dies have a centralstem, which extends upward through the top of the block B, for thepurpose of pressing down and operating the punch.

The punch or die for each figure or charac ter is composed of a numberof round wires arranged in the form of the character, and firmly set inthe head E, from which the stem C passes up through the block B. Thesewires are shown at D in Fig. 6. v

H is a fixed plate in the rotating block B, through which are holes,which serve as guides for the wires 1).

A short distance below H is another fixed plate, J, in which is a seriesof. holes corresponding to the wires D, into which the ends of the wiresenter when pressed down, and form cutting-dies to perforate a paperintroduced between H and J. In the block B is a recess, in which is thespiral spring K, operating upon the stem C to raise the die after it hasbeen depressed to punch the paper.

In moving up and down the punch is guided by the slides G, which passthrough suitable openings in the head E.

The wires D are made of different sizes in each character, as shown inFig. 7, for the purpose of giving a distinctive arrangement which cannotbe altered to any other figure or character.

It will be observed that the larger perforations are differentlyarranged in each figure, and cannot be changed to suit those of anyother figure. v

L is a handle for operating the punches. It is hinged to the block B atthe center, and extends forward over the top edge of the frame A.

At L it is furnished with a cup or recess which fits upon the upper endof either of the stems C of the-punches, so that when the for= Ward endof the handle or lever L is pressed down it depresses the punch andperforates the check or other paper placed under it.

c 'When in the proper position for pressing down the punch, the lever Lenters into a slot, M, in the forward part of the frame. In otherpositions it rests upon the top edge, N, of the frame.

O is a slide or carrier for holding the check to be punched. It moves insuitable grooves across the front of the stamp, and is carried to theleft the distance of one figure each time the handle is depressed bymechanism which wili be described. This carrier is made in two parts,opening slightly upon a hinge at O, as shown in Fig. 5, and is furnishedwith apoint, l, for holding the paper when closed. Other devices forholding the paper in the carrier can also be used.

The top of the carrier is furnished with a ratchet or notched plate, B,into which engages the pawl-lever S. This lever is moved to the left bythe handle L passing down through the slot M. This motion carries thecarrier forward one notch each time the handle is depressed. \Vhen thehandle is again raised, the spring T returns the lever S, and passes itover the next tooth of the ratchet, ready to be again-moved forward bythe next movement of the handle.

U is a bar, which is pressed down against the carrier 0 by means of thespring V, so as to hold it in place and give it snfiicient fric tion toprevent its being moved out of place by the operation of the ratchet andpawl which moves it forward.

The lever or pawl S is attached to the pin V, which extends through thefront plate of" the frame, and which is held in its forward position bymeans of the small spiral spring X, in which position the pawl isengaged with the ratchet It. By pressing in the pin \V the pawl is movedback out of the teeth of the ratchet, so asto disengage it and allow ofthe carrier being moved back to its extreme right position for theinsertion or removal of a check or other paper to be stamped. Along pin,extending out beyond the teeth of the ratchet at its end, catchesagainst the pawl and stops carrier. The handle L is then placed uponthat one of the punches which makes the dollar-mark or other characterdesired, and turned to the middle, where it is stopped by the slot M.The handle is then pressed down until the ends of the wires forming thecutting-die per: forate the paper. The handle is then raised, when thespring K. raises the die. The handle is then removed from the punch andplaced upon that for the next character desired, and again turned to thecenter, rotating the block B and bringing the punch into position asbefore. It is then pressed down by the handle, which, in passing downthe slot M, operates the pawl S and moves the carrier 0 one notch, sothat the punch will penetrate a new part of the paper at a shortdistance to the right of the previous character punched. In this manneras many characters as are wished for can be successively made,automatically, by simply operating the punches by means of the handle.

\Vhat we claim as our invention is 1. The combination of the handle L,swinging both horizontally and vertically, pivoted to theindcpendently-rotating center block, 13, with a rotating block, B,provided with spring punches or dies, and the guiding-frame A, havingthesingle slot M, wherebythcpunches are brought in any desired order to anexact position, substantially as herein described.

2. The carrier 0, composed of two bars hinged at one end, 0, andprovided with holdingpoints,in combination with aratchet-propellingmechanism and a series of punches, substantially as herein described.

3. The combination of the handle L, the lever S, disconnected from saidhandle, the ratchet R, carrier 0, and the releasing-pin W, constructedand arranged as described, for oper ating the carrier 0, substantiallyin the manner set forth.

J. P. NORTON. JNO. RAMSEY, JR.

Witnesses THEo. G. ELLIs, GEO. O. KNAPP.

